CCIW

[WUPHF]

Originally the wins over Chicago and WashU looked good, but neither of those teams is even ranked anymore.  Their remaining games are all CCIW games where anything can happen.

For what it is worth, Washington University is no longer in the rankings, with five losses on the season.  One loss was a 1-0 loss to a Division I opponent on the road.  Two were 1-0 overtime losses against teams that the Bears outplayed, but to no avail.  And, two, obviously were to stronger CCIW teams on the road.  And, Chicago only has three losses against ranked teams.  One or both of these wins should matter again.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I attended homecoming at IWU this weekend (my 40th anniversary - geez are my classmates old ). 

The football team upheld my wishes and scored two TDs in the last two minutes of the first half to put away NPU, so I was able to catch all of the IWU/NCC game.  Several regulars commented that the Titans (and presumably the Cards as well) were showing less speed and hustle than usual - understandable, as it was probably over 100 degrees on the pitch!  90% of the game was played on the NCC end of the pitch, but the Titans could get no finishes early, and it was 0-0 at the half.  In the second, the Titans lowered the boom, scoring in the 4th and 8th minutes, then allowing me to seek air conditioning by adding a third with about 9 minutes remaining.  According to the write-up, the Titans outshot the Cards 19 to ZERO.

I realize the Cards are not really a worthy measuring stick, but I came away feeling the Titans are probably worthy of their #4 ranking.

[DIIIdad]

Three teams in the Top 25.  And Wheaton is trailing Augie and Illinois Wesleyan.  A new dawn for women's CCIW soccer has Wheaton as the outsider looking in.  Probably about time, right Vikings and Titans?

How about three teams in the top 10?  IWU at 4, Augie at 6 and Wheaton at 10. 

How about three in the top 8?  IWU still at 4, Augie still at 6 and Wheaton up to 8.  According to D3soccer, no women's soccer conference has ever had three of the top eight spots in a top 25 national poll.  Pretty impressive.

[Jim Matson]

Yep!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I just noticed that the Titans are so far unscored upon in the CCIW!

Bur it looks like the conference season doesn't REALLY begin until Augie, Wheaton, and the Titans start playing each other.  Coming soon to a pitch near you!   (Alas, not near me. )

Having three in the top eight is fantastic, but even better would be five in the top twenty-five - or how about seven or eight in the top fifty?!

[DIIIdad]

Augie is at Wheaton this Wednesday (20th) and hosts IWU on the 23rd.  Wheaton and IWU play at IWU on the 27th. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Since they will start knocking each other out today, I'd better take this last chance to note that the CCIW now has 3 of the top SEVEN spots in the poll!

[Mr. Ypsi]

I was mildly surprised to see Wheaton 2 and Augie 3 in the first regional rankings, but I guess any discussion on that will be rendered moot in about 3 hours!

[DIIIdad]

Apparently they got it right. Wheaton dominated every phase of the game in a 4-1 beatdown.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well, 120 minutes wasn't time enough to resolve the issue - the Titan/Viking game ends scoreless.

Wheaton's game in Bloomington on Wednesday is almost certainly for the regular-season title.  But the three of them will certainly butt heads again in the conference tourney, and perhaps even in the national tourney.

[DIIIdad]

This was a nice bounce back for Augie against a quality team.  The game was like a track meet up and down the field both ways.  It was statistically even with Augie outshooting IWU 13-12 and shots on goal 5-4, with IWU holding a 2-1 edge in corners. 

After seeing Wheaton and IWU, I'll be surprised if Wheaton loses on Wednesday.  But, anything can happen in a CCIW match. 

[DIIIdad]

Wheaton at IWU, likely for the CCIW regular season championship. 

The CCIW tournament field is set with Wheaton, IWU, Augie and Millikin.  The only question that remains is the final order.  Millikin finishes at Wheaton, so they will likely finish 4-3 and in 4th.  Augie hosts North Central tonight and finishes at Elmhurst on Saturday.  Two wins would put them at 5-1-1, whereas two losses would put them at 3-3-1.  Of course, given their lack of scoring this season, the more likely scenario is two ties, putting them at 3-1-3.  Either way, they would need help to move into second, as IWU currently holds the second tie breaker of goal differential in conference at +10 (Augie is only at +2).  Augie would need Wheaton to put a big number on the board tonight, as well as themselves putting up big numbers against their two remaining opponents for any hope of moving into second place. 

With all of that, I predict the following final order:

1. Wheaton
2. IWU
3. Augie
4. Millikin

We'll see...

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wheaton 3, IWU 1.

So far, I know nothing except the box score - the Thunder only needed 2 saves the entire game (none in the second half).   That doesn't sound like the Titans.

I was pleased with the respect the CCIW has gotten in the national poll.  Despite a loss and a tie, Augie only fell to 8th, so the conference still has 3 of the top 8 (IWU 3rd, Wheaton 5th, though that will obviously change after today.)

DIIIdad's order for the conference tourney looks highly probable.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Gotta be impressed with the folks who do the regional rankings.  Last week they moved Wheaton ahead of Augie BEFORE Wheaton won on Wednesday.  This week, they moved Wheaton ahead of IWU BEFORE Wheaton won on Wednesday.

The late Paul the Octopus had nothing on these folks!

[DIIIdad]

The Augie bus is on its way to IWU for tonight's conference semi-final.  There will be no tie tonight, although I wouldn't be surprised if this goes to PK's.